Blog — proper sex toy care

by David Claus, Ph.D.

Recent evidence shows they just might. It's not only those containing spermicides that are potentially toxic to sperm - they all might be - at least to some degree. 

 

Years of peer reviewed, published research has shown that most sexual lubricants can decrease sperm's mobility, making it more difficult to reach an egg (1), but now there's a fair amount of credible research suggesting that those same lubricants might actually be toxic to sperm (2).

Just about all of the top selling lubricant brands have been studied, and time after time, mobility, motility and viability of sperm were dramatically reduced after exposure to the lube. Even in small concentrations these lubes not only impeded sperm's ability to swim, but also decreased their ability to survive and/or caused possible damage to their chromosomes (3).

What is it about these lubricants that is actually harming sperm?
It might be their acidity. Ideally the best pH value environment for a healthy sperm is between 7.0 and 8.5, or slightly alkaline. Lubricants tend to have pH values below 7, making most of them acidic. Some lubricants have pH values as low as 3 or 4. These overly acidic environments can cause sperm death. Actually, the vagina's own natural acidic secretions can even kill sperm.  However, just before ovulation the pH of the cervical mucus rises slightly, which helps protect the sperm during this time.

Sperm are also sensitive to both high and low osmolality (concentration of osmotically active particles in solution) because these can cause the cells to either shrink or swell too much. A physiologic osmolality around 320 mOsm/kg (that of semen) is best for sperm function (4). Sperm motility decreases with exposure to increasing osmolality, with all motion stopping at 600 mOsm or greater. Lubricants have osmolality levels 3-10 times that of semen that causes irreversible damage to sperm motility. Even water based lubricants can contain glycerin (also potentially toxic to sperm) or propylene glycol, both of which are highly hyperosmotic.

Should you believe the marketing?
Many leading brands state in their marketing material that they "will not kill sperm" or that they have "no effect on sperm motility." This is in spite of published literature to the contrary. There are hundreds of personal lubricants on the market nowadays, offering everything from 'purely organic' versions to brands that contain spermicides, create heating sensations, or even include numbing agents. In our research, the 'Pure,' 'Natural' or 'Organic' versions fare no better than the others.  If you are trying to conceive, one lube called Pre Seed claims to be completely 'sperm friendly,' and appears to have the actual data to back it up (5).

David Claus, PhD, is a chemist and expert on heavy-metals and their impact on bioinorganic systems.

by David Claus, Ph.D.

Yes, there actually is a molecular formula for SEX, and here it is:

 

 

If you can't quite make out the above, it's a compound that, when written out on paper, spells out the letters S-E-X. The molecular formula is C₁₄₂H₁₅₆O₁₇. Of course this is a theoretical molecule that doesn't occur in nature, and is of no use or value, BUT...

 

 

There is another SEX molecule that DOES have value. It's called Sodium Ethyl Xanate:

 

 

This chemical form of SEX actually IS a valuable compound. It can be used as an herbicide, as a flotation agent for recovering metals in the mining industry... it's even sometimes used as a rubber additive to protect against the depleting effects of oxygen and ozone.

 

We'll leave it up to you to determine which is the more accurate SEX molecule.

 

I'll leave you with one more fun molecule:

This is a chemical structure called an Arsole:

 

 

There's actually a paper that's titled: "Studies on the Chemistry of the Arsoles", G. Markland and H. Hauptmann, J. Organomet. Chem., 248 (1983) 269.

Can the title of a scientific paper get better than that?

by David Claus, Ph.D.

Now that you've created an exact copy of your favorite Willy, you'll want to be sure to take proper care of it. Don't take the cleaning of your Clone lightly; one of the most common ways to get a bacterial infection is from unclean or improperly cleaned sex toys. Thankfully, the care and cleaning of your Clone-A-Willy is a cinch!
 


Your finished Clone is made of a medical grade, platinum-cure, pure silicone, the “gold standard” of sex toys. Pure silicones are nonporous and extremely easy to clean and care for. Simply wash it with a mild or anti-bacterial soap and warm water. Be careful not to submerge the vibrator, though. While water resistant, it isn’t waterproof, so if you wish to submerge your Clone, remove the vibrator to keep the electrical components dry. To remove the vibrator, wiggle it back and forth while pulling on the silicone Clone. It may stick a little, but it will come out. Once removed, clean it by simply wiping it down with soap and warm water or rubbing alcohol.

Note that for overall cleanliness, storing your Clone in a dry, clean place is important. As long as it’s kept clean, a box or bag made of virtually any material will work just fine. Be sure to completely dry your Clone before storing it to discourage mold and mildew. If there are other toys in your box/bag, keep each item separated, as some materials are not compatible with one another and may cause melting or discoloration when exposed to extreme heat, cold or direct sunlight. Lastly, if storing for extended periods, remove the batteries so they can't leak. 

For those extra cautious types, a couple more cleaning options:
Remove the inside vibrator and drop your Clone in boiling water for 3-5 minutes or run it through the dishwasher.  Either of these will essentially guarantee complete sterilization.

If cleaning in general seems like too much of a pain and you use your toy often, you can always put a latex condom over it. Just be sure to use a new condom each time you switch from one person to the next, or from one sexual area to another.

All in all, take good care of your Clone by keeping it clean and it’ll reward you with many years of safe and sexy fun!